Because the Internet cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

Because the Internet Songwriting Credits by Childish Gambino

2013 Glassnote Records 19 tracks 58 min

Produced by Ludwig Göransson, Donald Glover

Glassnote Records Hip HopAlternative Hip HopCloud RapR&B
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 19 of 19 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 19 / 19 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 19 tracks with documented writers, by whether Childish Gambino carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
19 trackswritten by Childish Gambino 0 tracksoutside writers
Childish Gambino's roles on this album

Share of the 19 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer95%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

19
Tracks
15
Lyricists
7
Producers
2013
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Grammy Award for Best Rap Album (2015, Nominated)
Data Insight

Because the Internet was produced by Donald Glover and Ludwig Göransson, who co-wrote every track together, with additional production contributions from Stefan Ponce and Zach Sekoff on select songs. Glover accompanied the album with a 72-page screenplay that serves as a companion narrative, structuring the listening experience as a filmic journey. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 with 96,000 first-week copies and accumulated 992,000 album-equivalent units in the United States, receiving RIAA Gold certification.

Because the Internet is the second studio album by Childish Gambino, released in December 2013 on Glassnote Records and produced by Ludwig Göransson and Donald Glover. The album was a sprawling, multimedia concept project accompanied by a screenplay that provided narrative context for the record, blurring the lines between music, film, and literature in ways that anticipated Beyoncé's Lemonade. The production drew from cloud rap, chopped-and-screwed hip-hop, neo-soul, and experimental electronic music to create a dense sonic world that perfectly captured the alienated, ironic, and occasionally terrifying emotional landscape of digital-era young adulthood. 'Sweatpants,' '3005,' and 'Telegraph Ave' became fan favorites that demonstrated Glover's extraordinary range as a songwriter. Because the Internet is one of the most ambitious and prescient hip-hop albums of the 2010s.

Track Listing & Credits 19 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
The Library (Intro)
Donald Glover Donald Glover Donald Glover Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
2
I. Crawl
Donald GloverTaiwo HassanKehinde Hassan Donald GloverTaiwo HassanKehinde Hassan Christian RichDonald Glover Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
3
II. Worldstar
Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
4
Dial Up
Donald Glover Donald Glover Donald Glover Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
5
I. The Worst Guys
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonChancelor Bennett Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonChancelor Bennett Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
6
II. Shadows
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStephen BrunerK. Muhammad Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStephen BrunerK. Muhammad Stephen BrunerDonald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
7
III. Telegraph Ave. ("Oakland" by Lloyd)
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonRochelle Jordan Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonRochelle Jordan Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
8
IV. Sweatpants
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonJason Martin Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonJason Martin Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
9
V. 3005 #64
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStefan Ponce Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStefan Ponce Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStefan Ponce Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
10
Playing Around Before the Party Starts
Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Ludwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
11
I. The Party
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonJonathan Levi Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonJonathan Levi Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonPop Levi Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
12
II. No Exit
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonMiguel Pimentel Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonMiguel Pimentel Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
13
Death by Numbers
Donald Glover Donald Glover Donald Glover Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
14
I. Flight of the Navigator
Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
15
II. Zealots of Stockholm (Free Information)
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonLakisha Robinson Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonLakisha Robinson Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonSam Spiegel Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
16
III. Urn
Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
17
I. Pink Toes
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStefan PonceJhené Chilombo Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStefan PonceJhené Chilombo Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonStefan Ponce Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
18
II. Earth: The Oldest Computer (The Last Night)
Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonAzealia Banks Donald GloverLudwig GöranssonAzealia Banks Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)
19
III. Life: The Biggest Troll (Andrew Auernheimer)
Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald GloverLudwig Göransson Donald Glover (Lead Vocals, Rap)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 18 contributors

More from Childish Gambino

Frequently Asked Questions Because the Internet

Who produced Because the Internet by Childish Gambino?
Because the Internet was produced primarily by Donald Glover and Ludwig Göransson, who co-produced every track. Stefan Ponce and Zach Sekoff contributed to production on select songs. The album was released December 10, 2013, through Glassnote Records.
Did Childish Gambino write all the songs on Because the Internet himself?
Donald Glover co-wrote all tracks on Because the Internet with Ludwig Göransson and occasional outside contributors. The album has a screenplay companion written entirely by Glover that provides narrative context for each section of the album.
What chart position did 3005 by Childish Gambino reach on the Billboard Hot 100?
3005 peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the primary single from Because the Internet and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015.
Did Because the Internet by Childish Gambino win any Grammy Awards?
Because the Internet was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015 but did not win. The single 3005 also received a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the same ceremony.
Who wrote Sweatpants from Because the Internet by Childish Gambino?
Sweatpants (listed as IV. Sweatpants on the album) is co-written by Donald Glover and Ludwig Göransson. The track was released as one of four singles from Because the Internet alongside 3005, Crawl, and Telegraph Ave.
What is the screenplay companion to Because the Internet by Childish Gambino?
Donald Glover wrote a 72-page screenplay called Because the Internet that was released alongside the album on December 10, 2013. The screenplay tells the story of a character known as "The Boy" and provides narrative context for the album's thematic sections.
When did Childish Gambino release Because the Internet?
Childish Gambino released Because the Internet on December 10, 2013, through Glassnote Records. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 with 96,000 first-week copies and was his second major-label studio album, following Camp (2011).

Sources